Lyle Atwood's company is hired to costume a party given by multi-millionaire Warner Radclyffe. As he and his employees begin preparations for the job, Lyle begins to feel as if someone is watching him. Then he meets Damien Sauvage, the newest tenant in the apartment building where he lives. Damien tells Lyle that he's a waiter, and when Lyle confides in him that he thinks he's being stalked, Damien offers to help find out who it is. What he neglects to tell Lyle is he actually works for Radclyffe, who wants him to protect Lyle from a very powerful enemy. As Damien gains Lyle's confidence, he becomes attracted to the younger man -- an attraction that Lyle reciprocates. He fights his feelings, knowing Lyle will hate him when he finds out his secret -- and even more so when he learns what Damien really is. Radclyffe orders Damien to continue the job, as he has a secret of his own involving Lyle. A secret that cannot be revealed until the night of the party. Can Lyle survive what is to come, or will the lies of omission be the death of him -- or worse?

Lies of Omission

The moment he was able to move, he eased toward the window to his right after making certain no one other than Lyle and Radclyffe were watching him. Folding his wings, he slipped inside, and then removed all traces of his daytime gargoyle. He dressed as quickly as possible and left the room, hurrying down the long flight of stairs to the ground floor and the small chapel to the right of the nave.


Taking a deep breath, trying to calm his roiling emotions, he walked to the front entrance of the church and stepped out onto the stoop.


Damien’s spirits dropped at Lyle’s solemn expression as they approached each other, and his greeting, if it could be called that—a brief “You’re decidedly underdressed for the weather,” followed seconds later by a brisk, “We need to talk.”


Chapter 85